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Cuba

We track the state of the US-Cuba relationship, from President Obama's historic rapprochement to President Trump's reversal of Obama's policies.

The latest in Cuba

John Bolton just gave an “Axis of Evil” speech about Latin AmericaJohn Bolton just gave an “Axis of Evil” speech about Latin America
World Politics

The US will now go after a so-called “Troika of Tyranny”: Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.

By Alex Ward
What’s happening to US diplomats in Cuba and China? Here are 4 theories.What’s happening to US diplomats in Cuba and China? Here are 4 theories.
Politics

One of them is an attack from a “sonic weapon.”

By Alex Ward
Trump’s tough new Cuba policy isn’t nearly as tough as he wants you to thinkTrump’s tough new Cuba policy isn’t nearly as tough as he wants you to think
World Politics

Trump promised to “terminate” Obama’s deal with Cuba. But his new policies don’t go nearly that far.

By Jennifer Williams
Americans can now legally travel to Cuba. Here's how.
World Politics

Americans can now legally travel to Cuba. Here's how.

By Johnny Harris
Barack Obama makes historic visit to CubaBarack Obama makes historic visit to Cuba
Politics

After 50 years of hostility and embargo, the two countries take a major step toward normalization.

By Vox Staff
The US just took a huge symbolic step at the UN to normalize relations with CubaThe US just took a huge symbolic step at the UN to normalize relations with Cuba
World Politics

For the first time ever, the US abstained on a UN vote condemning the Cuba embargo.

By Jennifer Williams
Cuba has a possible lung cancer vaccine that America can now testCuba has a possible lung cancer vaccine that America can now test
Play
Health Care

Medical innovation may be the most surprising benefit of the thawing of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

By Julia Belluz
President Obama’s historic visit to Cuba, in 5 incredible photosPresident Obama’s historic visit to Cuba, in 5 incredible photos
Politics

He's the first president to visit the island since 1928.

By Libby Nelson
Airbnb and American hotels aren’t wasting any time opening up in CubaAirbnb and American hotels aren’t wasting any time opening up in Cuba
Politics

Your hipster trip to Cuba is already ruined.

By Michelle Hackman
9 questions about Cuba you were too embarrassed to ask9 questions about Cuba you were too embarrassed to ask
Climate

How did things get so bad between the US and Cuba in the first place?

By Max Fisher
Barack Obama will be the first sitting president to visit Cuba in 88 yearsBarack Obama will be the first sitting president to visit Cuba in 88 years
Politics

Next month Obama will make his historic trip.

By Michelle Hackman
Travel to Cuba is about to get much, much cheaperTravel to Cuba is about to get much, much cheaper
Politics

Want to spend your next vacation in Cuba? Start planning for the fall.

By Michelle Hackman
Traveling to Cuba is easier than ever. Will that change if a Republican becomes president?Traveling to Cuba is easier than ever. Will that change if a Republican becomes president?
Politics

Americans are flocking to the once off-limits island in droves.

By Michelle Hackman
Why Cuban cab drivers earn more than doctors
Video

In Cuba, cab drivers are the 1 percent.

By Johnny Harris
Castro hates the internet, so Cubans created their own
Video

The internet in Cuba is so bad that Cubans had to invent their own.

By Johnny Harris
This is Cuba's Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify — all without the internet
Play
Video

How media smugglers get Taylor Swift, Game of Thrones, and the New York Times to Cubans every week.

By Johnny Harris
Why Carnival can't call its new US-Cuba travel a "cruise"Why Carnival can't call its new US-Cuba travel a "cruise"
Business & Finance

It's not a booze cruise, it's a voyage with booze.

By Margarita Noriega
Read Obama and Castro's historic letters reestablishing diplomatic relationsRead Obama and Castro's historic letters reestablishing diplomatic relations
World Politics

The letters are fascinating to read, for their role in history and almost quaint formality.

By Max Fisher
The gender gap in American newspapers, in 2 chartsThe gender gap in American newspapers, in 2 charts
Media

Even though women comprise 50 percent of the population, they only write a third of the newspaper stories.

By Alex Abad-Santos
President Obama meets with Cuban leader Raul CastroPresident Obama meets with Cuban leader Raul Castro
Climate

Although it wasn't an officially organized meeting, the encounter was still a fairly big deal in the context of US-Cuba relations.

By Amanda Taub
Obama’s big Caribbean trip is all about Venezuela and oilObama’s big Caribbean trip is all about Venezuela and oil
Climate

There’s much more going on at the Summit of the Americas than an Obama-Castro meeting.

By Amanda Taub
Why you shouldn't take health advice from Mark CubanWhy you shouldn't take health advice from Mark Cuban
Science

The business tycoon's bogus beliefs about blood testing enraged the medical community.

By Julia Belluz
Vox Sentences: It just got easier to go to CubaVox Sentences: It just got easier to go to Cuba
Cuba

Enjoy Havana!

By Dylan Matthews
Rand Paul is hammering Marco Rubio over Cuba on Twitter. Welcome to the 2016 primary.Rand Paul is hammering Marco Rubio over Cuba on Twitter. Welcome to the 2016 primary.
Politics

"Senator @marcorubio is acting like an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat."

By Andrew Prokop
Why the Cuba embargo needs to end, explained in 3 minutesWhy the Cuba embargo needs to end, explained in 3 minutes
Play
Video

The US has started normalizing diplomacy with Cuba, but it will take an act of congress to end the embargo. Here are seven reasons why it should.

By Zack Beauchamp
Everything you need to read about the huge US-Cuba dealEverything you need to read about the huge US-Cuba deal
Cuba

Plus, the Fed's subtle but significant change to economic policy, and terrorist threats deny America the right to watch Seth Rogen's new movie.

By Dylan Matthews
7 reasons to end the Cuba embargo7 reasons to end the Cuba embargo
Play
Health Care

These seven facts show why the Cuba embargo is a totally failed policy.

By Zack Beauchamp
How Florida's demographics made the US-Cuba deal possibleHow Florida's demographics made the US-Cuba deal possible
Politics

The old "Cuban vote" doesn't mean what it used to

By Dara Lind
How domestic politics drove America's Cuba embargo — and might soon end itHow domestic politics drove America's Cuba embargo — and might soon end it
Politics

The tumultuous Clinton-era politics of Cuba.

By Andrew Prokop
Obama can limit the Cuba embargo on his own. But he needs Congress to end itObama can limit the Cuba embargo on his own. But he needs Congress to end it
Cuba

Here’s what it would take to really end the Cuban embargo

By Amanda Taub
Before you plan that trip to Cuba: will the US government let you go?Before you plan that trip to Cuba: will the US government let you go?
Politics

A handy checklist

By Dara Lind and Anand Katakam
Are Cuban cigars really better? What the experts say.Are Cuban cigars really better? What the experts say.
World Politics

Cigar Aficionado consistently rated Cuban cigars higher in blind taste tests.

By Dylan Matthews
Cuba's human rights record is terrible, no matter what you think of the embargoCuba's human rights record is terrible, no matter what you think of the embargo
Marriage Equality

The embargo is a disastrous failure, but human rights in Cuba are genuinely awful.

By Matthew Yglesias
The most important sentence in Obama's Cuba speechThe most important sentence in Obama's Cuba speech
World Politics

Obama wants to make his Cuba deal much bigger than it is.

By Ezra Klein
The two secret heroes of the US-Cuba deal: Pope Francis and CanadaThe two secret heroes of the US-Cuba deal: Pope Francis and Canada
Religion

How they quietly but crucially made normalization possible, over 18 long months.

By Max Fisher
Watch: President Obama's statement on CubaWatch: President Obama's statement on Cuba
World Politics

Big changes are in the works.

By Joe Posner
It's long past time to end America's idiotic embargo of CubaIt's long past time to end America's idiotic embargo of Cuba
World Politics

We don't need a seventh decade of this nonsense.

By Matthew Yglesias
The basics of the major new US-Cuba dealThe basics of the major new US-Cuba deal
Cuba

Here's what we know so far

By Amanda Taub
Major League Baseball's human-trafficking problemMajor League Baseball's human-trafficking problem
Immigration

Cuban baseball players are getting kidnapped and extorted on their way to the US

By Dara Lind